Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. See our User Agreement and Privacy Policy.

Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. See our Privacy Policy and User Agreement for details.

5.
Trends: introductions & species numbers increasing
Increased possibilities for / rates of
IAS introductions & spread:
•
•
•
•
•
Travel
Trade
Land use changes
Climate change
…
Established alien terrestrial invertebrates in Europe
IAS are increasing in all environments and among all taxonomic groups:
In Europe they increased by 76 per cent over the period 1970 to 2007 (Butchart et al, 2010) see also EEA 2013

11.
Impacts: economic impacts estimates: examples
In the Black Sea the comb jellyfish IAS (predators) contributed to the fall in
anchovy landings from hundreds of thousands of tons to tens of thousands of
tons per year by the end of the 1980s, with a loss of 150,000 jobs.
Lubchenco, (1997) and Harbison and Volovik, (1994)
Canary Islands (Lanzarote) 2004: 100 Million
Pilgrom Crickets (Desert Locusts) landed on the
coast of the Canary Islands due to the south-eastern
winds.
The crickets devoured around 1% of crop land and
a significant amount of pesticides were used
against them, causing damage to endemic species.
See Sauter et al., 2013: Impact of Climate Change on EU Islands

13.
Impacts: conclusions
• IAS have negative impacts in Europe / the EU (ecological & socioeconomic, costs to economic sectors including agriculture, fisheries, forestry,
infrastructure and health … )
• Some socio-economic impacts also positive - but they are often
accompanied with negative impacts on biodiversity
• The European / EU cost estimates developed are likely to be conservative &
underestimates of real costs – due to limited data / data gaps
• Given the rate of invasions, negative impacts (e.g. costs) likely to increase
in the future

16.
Impacts abroad
• On EU’s overseas territories/outermost regions
• Islands are particularly sensitive to IAS
• Trade and tourism creates significant IAS risks and
important to avoid impacts
• Also risks to other all third countries
The Introduction of IAS is
considered to be a major factor
leading to the loss of island
biodiversity in overseas
territories.
A very high proportion of post
1600 extinctions have been of
island species
Groombridge 1992
This raises question on roles and responsibilities: EU internal, & global responsibility
& what the costs of different measures might be, and their value for money
& where can what measures at what point in the IAS pathways address risks ?

21.
Outcome of a successful policy response
Effective policy response / framework also cost effective
→ Cost of policy action < cost of inaction
→ Cost of prevention < cost of control
In the majority of cases, invasions are only reversible at high cost (Andersen et al, 2004).
Prevention should always be the preferred management option where feasible

22.
Example: IAS prevention EUR < damage EUR
Estimated costs of policy measures to prevent (mainly via awareness raising / info campaigns) the spread of common
ragweed (A. artemisiifolia) across the non-invested area in the EU, in comparison to costs of damage extrapolated to
cover species’ current range in Europe.
200
million EUR / year
150
83
100
50
0.72
0
Estimated costs of prevention (noninfested area in the EU)
Estimated costs of damage (Europe)
Shine, C. et al. 2010. Analysis of the impacts of policy options/measures to address IAS.

24.
Overall estimates of costs and benefits
IAS costs of no additional action:
Costs of addressing IAS
yearly estimate
(related to policy options studied in 2010 report)
• Documented costs: 12.5 billion
EUR / year
• Damage: 9.6 billion EUR
40 to 190 million EUR / year for EU+MS
• Control: 2.8 billion EUR
•
Extrapolated costs*: 20 billion EUR /
year
By Kettunen et al. 2009, 136 species analysed
* Costs of 26 species (EUR / km2) extrapolated for their total range in
Europe
(range: low effort to high effort)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
EU level info and early warning system
National on the ground monitoring
National risk assessments
Permitting and inspection re intentional
introductions
Inspections for unintentional introductions
Management control of IAS of EU concern
Et al.
See Shine et al 2010
These were 2009 and 2010 estimates – important input to IA .
Costs of inaction and benefits of action often go to different stakeholders
Note that the estimated costs of addressing IAS should not be taken as costs associated with the final proposal given some differences in policy measures

25.
Summary
•
IAS impacts important: biodiversity, health, economic activity (& public budgets)
•
EU has own interest to act (inc. outermost regions) & responsibilities (3rd countries)
•
Prevention can be very cost effective, as can early action
•
Existing measures on IAS do not address the whole challenge > new measures needed
•
Need co-ordination/cooperation for effective action, and keep costs down
•
EU level role important to complement MS efforts – Regulation COM(2013) 620
•
EU proposal in front of EP now –assessments of costs of inaction on IAS and cost of
measures to reduce risks key to the Regulation’s progress
•
Numbers can never be precise, but clear benefits>costs & fit-for-purpose in EU’s IA
•
Specific cases invaluable to complement macro-assessments & communicate importance
•
The potential to avoid biodiversity impacts as well as wider socio-economic costs
depends on negotiations, on complementary Member State actions & implementation.

26.
Thank you for your attention !
Patrick ten Brink ptenbrink@ieep.eu
With thanks to Marianne Kettunen, IEEP Biodiversity Team,
Mkettunen@ieep.eu
IEEP is an independent not for profit institute dedicated to advancing an environmentally sustainable
Europe through policy analysis, development and dissemination.
For further information see: http://www.ieep.eu
Follow us on twitter: IEEP_EU
For more information about IEEP’s work on IAS, please visit: www.ieep.eu or contact Marianne
Kettunen who is leading IEEP’s work in this area: Mkettunen@ieep.eu